H26. 7 Reasons To Start Memorizing The Qur’an:

When it comes to memorizing the Quran it’s easy for us to make excuses. “Oh, I’ll start when the kids are older”, we say. Or we set conditions like, “I want to learn tajweed first”. And sometimes, we even mislead ourselves saying, “Reciting and understanding is more important, so I’ll work on that first”. These are all mere distractions to attaining what is superior. There’s no Doubt, reciting Quran and perfecting your tajweed are extremely noble goals, and the rewards for them are great and unique. However, the haafizah (memorizer) of the Quran enjoys a special status above all.

November 4, 2013 by um asmaa
Below are 7 reasons why you should bury the excuses and start memorizing Quran today.

1. An immense reward awaits you
Allaah, the Most High, says in His Glorious book,
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتۡلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ سِرًّ۬ا وَعَلَانِيَةً۬ يَرۡجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً۬ لَّن تَبُورَ
Verily, those who recite the Book of Allah, and perform As-Salat, and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a (sure) trade-gain that will never perish.
In this ayah, Allah mentions reciting the Quran along side the most important act of worship, Salah, and with a promise of an everlasting, imperishable reward. Now, imagine you had access to the Quran at all times without having to depend on a mushaf. The opportunity to accumulate rewards would be immense. You could recite while driving, cooking, walking, or while waiting in a line. You wouldn’t be restricted to isolated time slots dedicated to reading as you could recite on the go.

2. You only have control of today
Abdullah ibn Umar (radiyallahu anhuma) said it best when he said, “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health before your sickness, and (take) from your life before your death.” [Al-Bukhari]
When it comes to memorizing the Quran, don’t procrastinate or depend on the future as you don’t know what circumstances you’ll find yourself in tomorrow. You only have control of the present, and that extra ayah you memorize today will move you up a level in jannah. See point 7.

3. It’s easy
One of the miracles of the Quran is that Allaah made it easy for us to memorize, as He, subhaanahu wa ta’aala, said:
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ۬
And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember? [Al-Qamar:17,22,32,40]
This verse repeats four times in the same chapter. The fact that the verses of the Quran are so articulate and can never be reproduced by the most eloquent of poets and writers, but yet can be memorized from cover to cover is proof that Allah has indeed made it easy.
Nonetheless, there are instances when memorization can be difficult, such as being exposed to Quran and Arabic for the first time after childhood, or having a memory problem, or dealing life circumstances that make commitment difficult. Although, these may seem like obstacles, they are actually sources of motivation, because the Prophet of Allaah (s.a.w) said, “The likeness of the one who reads it and tries hard to memorize it even though it is difficult for him, he will have a double reward”. [Al-Bukhari]

4. You’re the best of people
The Messenger of Allaah (s.a.w) said, “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it”[Al-Bukhari]. What you have is so valuable that you are the only one in this universe, along with one other type of person, worthy of being envied.
Ibn ‘Amr reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, “There is no cause to be envious except in two cases: (the first is of a) person whom Allaah has taught the Qur’aan, and he recites it in the day and night, and one of his neighbours hears him and says, ‘Woe to me! I wish I had been given what he has been given, then I would do what he is doing! (The second is of a) person whom Allah has blessed with wealth, and he spends it in good causes, so a person (who sees him) says, ‘Woe to me! I wish I had been given what he has been given, then I would do what he is doing!”[Al-Bukhari]

5. VIP status in this life, death, and beyond
The haafiza is a true VIP. She automatically qualifies for some roles of leadership by virtue of being a haafizah. For example, in a prayer congregation, the one who knows more Quran leads the prayer. In the seerah we find a number of cases when the Prophet appointed the companion who had memorized the most Quran to be the leader of a group of people.
Even at the time of death you’re honoured. The haafizah is placed ahead of the everyone else in a mass burial. At the battle of Uhud, the Prophet buried the martyrs who had memorized the Quran in front of those who hadn’t, to highlight their superiority.
And in the hereafter, “the one who recites the Qur’aan and learns it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes”(Al-Bukhari). Also, you will have a special intercession, a day when we are in desperate need of all the help possible to intercede for us with Allaah.
It was narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, ‘Recite the Qur’aan, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection to intercede for its companions’.” [Muslim and Al-Bukhari]
But it doesn’t end there…

6. You will be in the highest level in Jannah
Perhaps the greatest motivation to memorize is that you have control over which level of jannah you end up in. The level of paradise you attain is directly linked to how many verses of the Quran you memorize.
Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, “It will be said to the companion of the Qur’aan after he has entered Paradise, ‘Recite, and rise!’ For every verse he recites he will rise one level (in Paradise), until he recites the last verse with him (i.e., in his memory).” (Aboo Dawood)
Some scholars use this hadith to argue that the number of levels in Jannah are equivalent to the number of verses in the Quran, while others limit it to seven levels. Whatever the case is, you’ll be admitted to the highest level possible if you memorize the entire Quran. Firdous is the limit!

7. Role Model
It goes without saying that you’ll be a model for your children to follow as you’ve achieved or are working on what you’ve been encouraging them to do. Think of the example you’d be setting for your children, especially your daughters, particularly in a society that invests more in boys when it comes to Quran.
You’ll also be a true role model for other Muslim women, single and married alike. Allaah and His messenger (s.a.w) made you superior to others, singled you out as the best person, and crowned you as the epitome of envy. Why wouldn’t anyone want to be like you?!
Whether you are single or married, a mom of one child or eight, memorizing Quran IS for you and IS achievable. With dua, sincerity, and a positive attitude, you will be successful because Allah’s promise is true.
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَہۡدِيَنَّہُمۡ سُبُلَنَا‌ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths. And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers).” [AL-Ankabut:69]